AU Theatre production of "Chicago" to feature Miss Alabama 2015 as Velma

“Chicago,” the longest running American musical in the history of Broadway, will open on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. on the Telfair Peet Theatre Mainstage.

“Chicago” follows Roxie Hart as she joins the ranks of Velma Kelly and the other “merry murderesses” of the Cook County jail in 1920s Chicago. With the help of lawyer Billy Flynn and prison matron Momma Morton, Roxie and Velma harness the power of celebrity to plead their cases and become stars. Although “Chicago” originally opened on Broadway in 1975, its tawdry tales of celebrity culture run amok remain relevant today. Audiences can expect a stage chock full of sultry movement, shrewd vocals, and satirical humor.

Of the many talented cast members in Auburn’s production of “Chicago,” is someone that will be familiar to many audience members –Meg McGuffin, who was Miss Alabama in 2015. McGuffin is a graduate student at Auburn and told The Auburn Plainsman that she wanted a new kind of challenge, so she’s taking on the role of Velma in the show (played by Katherine Zeta-Jones in the film).

This performance runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.

“Chicago” first appeared onstage as a play that eventually caught the eyes of choreographer/director Bob Fosse and his wife, Gwen Verdon, an actress. At Fosse and Verdon’s urging, American songwriters John Kander and Frank Ebb adapted the original play into a tawdry, jazz musical that premiered on Broadway in 1975. While a mild hit, the musical did not enter into the pantheon of musical theatre until the revival premiered on Broadway in 1997. That revival production still runs at the Ambassador Theatre and has reached nearly 9000 performances.

Additionally, Rob Marshall’s 2002 film version of “Chicago,” starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellweger, and Queen Latifah, won a total of 6 academy awards including best picture.

Auburn’s production of “Chicago”, like the film, receives a rating of PG-13, and runs until Feb. 24.

Talkback Thursdays
An opportunity to learn more about the show and to hear from members of the cast and production team is available through “Talkback Thursdays.” Join the cast and crew after the performance on “Talkback Thursdays” for a discussion with the director and company members.

Buy Tickets
The Department of Theatre continues to take advantage of its new ticketing system. Features include the ability to choose seats online (for mainstage productions) and a new season subscription package, along with a larger range of purchasing options. For more information, go to https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=aubrn.
For more information please visit https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=aubrn